10 Termite Treatment Chemicals and Poisons

Top-quality termite treatment chemicals and poisons have been proven to be the most effective way of controlling these little creatures who seem to have been created for only one purpose -destruction.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage every year, and property owners spend over two billion dollars on treating them.

Such a level of destruction calls for the use of very effective termiticides to halt the activities of termites in our surroundings completely.

What Chemicals Kill Termites?

Are you searching for the best termiticides to apply anywhere the need arises and when you want to see lasting results? You will find your answers in this article as you read on. Please stick with me!

Here is a popular question we need to do justice to. Which are the best termite liquid treatment on the market today?

4 Major Termite Chemical Treatments for Control

There are lots of chemical poisons that do excellent jobs in killing termites. While some are in liquid form, others may be in powdered form.

Below are a few of them.

  • Arsenic Dust

Also known as arsenic trioxide, this deadly poison has proven very effective in termite control.

Often applied directly to treat wooden materials in their powdered form, the arsenic dust kills termites on contact with them.

Also, note that you need to be careful when applying this dust around your surroundings because the chemical is hazardous.

  • Hexaflumuron

Unlike the first mentioned chemical, this termite pesticide is slow-acting, yet it is also very effective in killing these invasive insects.

Hexaflumuron is primarily used in bait boxes or systems to inhibit the growth of these insects and completely wipe them out by exploiting their social behavior of eating and leaving behind scents to direct others to where they find food.

Once the chemical hexaflumuron gets to the queen, you can rest assured you will wipe out the whole colony.

  • Imidacloprid

Derived from nicotine, this termite-killing chemical is very effective in underground treatments. Though it is also slow-acting like Hexaflumuron, you can trust it to do an excellent job in stopping the activities of those termite pests.

The chemical works by killing the termites when they ingest or contact it. Often this doesn’t happen instantly, allowing the affected insect to come in contact with and pass the poison to other termites.

  • Fipronil

Fipronil works by destroying the central nervous system of termites when they come in contact with it. This is why it is one of the main ingredients of several termite liquid products.

Having discussed these control chemicals, let’s now take a quick look at some of the best termite control products.

Termite Control Chemical Names

 

  • Martins IGR Regulator

This powerful insecticide doesn’t just kill termites alone. It also ensures other insects have no place around the areas it has been applied to.

Primarily suitable for indoor use, this anti-termite chemical has been highly effective yet very economical.

  • Permethrin SFR

Permethrin SFR is one of the most vital termite chemicals you should look out for if you hope to control these insects’ activities permanently.

Apart from knocking out termites completely, this chemical takes care of ants, mites, and several other insects.

Because of its high content of Permethrin (36%), this termite insecticide is highly recommended for outdoor use.

  • Talstar Pro Insecticide

Consistently among the most recommended for termite control, Talsar Pro will help you get rid of those insects in a short time. The only downside to this product is that it is pretty expensive compared to other brands in the market.

If you want to see a lasting result, you should ignore the cost and give Talsar a shot.

Anti Termite Chemical For Construction

When it comes to buildings, extra attention is required to get the right termiticides to apply pre and post-construction.

As shown by a study conducted by the Indian Forest Research Institute Dehradoon, most chemicals used for controlling termites have effects that last for as long as nine years.

That means that once applied to a construction site. Such an effect can last up to 9 years on that area before the need to re-apply the chemical arises.

Some of the most recommended termiticides for construction include:

  • Chlorpyrifos

Chlorpyrifos is mainly used in buildings to kill invasive insects such as termites. Once applied on a construction site, the chemical also eliminates worms and pests.

After ingestion or coming in contact with it, Chlorpyrifos kills termites by affecting their nervous systems.

  • Lindane

Lindane is another strong chemical used to control the activities of termites in buildings and construction sites. The termite poison also affects the nervous system of insects, subsequently leading to their death.

It’s worthy of mentioning that you must apply many of these anti-termite chemicals following the law guiding a country’s use of such products.

Before use, they should also be diluted with several liters of water according to the manufacturers’ specifications.

Anti Termite Chemical For Soil Treatment

Termites live and breed mainly in the soil.

This is one primary reason you must regularly treat the ground where a building is constructed or where wooden materials are kept.

One of the best chemicals for such treatment is Termidor Suspended Concentrate, or just “Termidor SC,” as popularly called.

  • Termidor SC

According to reports, Termidor SC can keep termites away from a particular site for over ten years when used to treat the soil. The chemical destroys termites when it comes in contact with them or when the insect ingests them.

Termidor SC is one of those termiticides that have been known to wipe out termite colonies completely.

Handling Termite Killer Chemicals: Safety Tips

Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind when handling termiticides:

  1. Keep the chemicals out of the reach of children. This is one piece of advice you must take very seriously. No termiticide should be kept within reach of children. Store them in safe containers and keep them where kids can’t get access to them.
  2. Please keep a record of every chemical used, quantity, and other necessary information about them. This also includes labeling their containers appropriately.
  3. Ensure no inflammable material, including gas cylinders, is brought close. Always store flammable materials in a different environment to avoid fire outbreaks.
  4. When not in use, ensure that the chemical container lid is tightly closed to avoid spilling the content accidentally in places where you are not supposed to use them.
  5. Ensure you thoroughly read the manufacturer’s instructions and the ingredients to know the risk associated with each product.
  6. Use personal protective gear like hand gloves, face masks, etc., as often as needed.
  7. Watch out for food products and ensure they are not kept close to the termiticides.
  8. Wash off chemical traces from your skin immediately you discover them and ask for help where you don’t know what needs to be done.
  9. Keep a piece of First Aid equipment handy. In case of an emergency, you will need one or two things.
  10. For safety concerns, take note of the time gap required for you to vacate a treated environment. This is often indicated on product labels. Part of the reason is that you should always read the instructions on the product or chemical you intend to use.

Risks Of Exposure To Termiticides

While trying to control the activities of termites chemically, we often expose ourselves to the risk of coming in contact with those chemicals.

Some settle on our skin and get absorbed into our bodies. Others agree on the food we eat, while some get inhaled into our bodies. These chemicals can have adverse effects on us as humans and our pets in large quantities.

Side effects like difficulty breathing, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, etc., may show up immediately, while other symptoms may take time to manifest before we notice them.

Below are some of the side effects of termite control chemicals that scientists have discovered:

  1. Adverse Skin Conditions

Skin conditions like cutaneous toxicity, infections, and rashes have been shared among people who constantly expose themselves to these highly concentrated chemicals.

  1. Infertility And Sterility

According to reports, a scientist is now linking infertility in women and low sperm count in men to prolonged exposure to certain chemicals used for termite treatments.

  1. Respiratory Disorders

Asthma, bronchitis, difficulty breathing, and wheezing are just some examples of respiratory disorders often associated with constant exposure to certain anti termites treatment chemicals.

  1.   Birth Defects

Constant exposure to these pesticides has been demonstrated to affect unborn children through their pregnant mothers severely.

This is the primary reason pregnant women should never be allowed to get too close to a vicinity where anti-termite treatment is being carried out or near the chemical itself.

Summary

This article discussed the best termite treatment chemicals for fast and lasting results. Have you been searching for such termiticides in times past?

I hope you find the information in this helpful guide.

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